From the late 19th century postcards served the role of today’s texts and messaging apps. In a an age when private telephones were the preserve of the wealthy, and an inland letter cost a penny, the postcard at a half penny was a convenient way for ordinary folk to communicate.  Although the middle classes bemoaned their lack of privacy – even resorting to writing the message upside down and in extremis in code  – they were soon caught up in the accompanying collecting craze which swept Europe. Few self-respecting households were without their postcard album.